PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Delores Deferrari, Senior Director of Operations at American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
2:14:19
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132 sec
Delores Deferrari from ASPCA discusses the organization's efforts to provide affordable veterinary care in New York City, highlighting the opening of new community clinics and the challenges faced in meeting the high demand for services.
- ASPCA is opening a new Community Veterinary Clinic in Queens, which will join existing clinics in the Bronx and Brooklyn
- The organization has provided over 140,000 cats and dogs with care since 2020, including free surgeries for ACC and rescues
- There is an overwhelming demand for appointments, with an estimated annual need of 85,000 spay/neuter surgeries for lower-income households
- ASPCA faces staffing difficulties due to a national shortage of veterinarians and veterinary techs
Delores Deferrari
2:14:19
MY NAME IS DELORIS DEFARRI, AND I'M THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE ASPCA'S COMMUNITY MEDICINE PROGRAM.
2:14:26
New York City is home to countless animal rescue organizations that tirelessly work to save the lives of pets and place them in loving homes.
2:14:33
These organizations, often staffed by dedicated volunteers, are on the front lines addressing the needs of abandoned neglect did in homeless animals.
2:14:42
The work they do is not only vital for the animals they save, but also for the broader community.
2:14:47
One of our top priorities is to make veterinary care more accessible to underserved pet owners.
2:14:51
Next week, we'll cut the ribbon on our new Community Veterinary Clinic in Long Island City Queens.
2:14:56
The Queens Clinic will perform an estimated 11,000 surgeries annually and provide 10,000 animals with primary pet care services.
2:15:04
It will join the Bronx and Brooklyn clinics, which open during the pandemic and have already made a significant impact.
2:15:10
Caring for over a 140,000 cats and dogs across New York City since 2020.
2:15:16
In this time frame, we provided ACC over 10,000 free surgeries, rescues with over 71,000 free surgeries and owned pets with over 6000 surgeries.
2:15:26
While these numbers are significant, they only scratched the surface of the need.
2:15:29
The demand for appointments at our clinics is overwhelming with schedules often booking within minutes of opening.
2:15:34
Our strategy and research team estimates that an annual Spayner need for lower income households which is below 2 times the poverty level, is 85,000 surgeries for dogs and cats, excluding community cats, which would be at 193,000 animals.
2:15:49
We have been deeply affected by staffing difficulties due to the national shortage of veterinarians and veterinary techs.
2:15:55
The need far outweighs the supply, not just in term of facilities and funding, but also in terms of qualified veterinary professionals.
2:16:01
Vets must be highly skilled to perform high volume, high quality spaniuter surgeries.
2:16:07
We are committed to doing all that we can to support the animals and people of New York, but we can't do it alone.
2:16:13
The need for affordable veterinary care cannot be met solely through the efforts of nonprofit organizations no matter how dedicated or expansive their operations.
2:16:21
We consider we urge this the city to continue to consider implementing programs and policies that increase the availability of low cost veterinary services.
2:16:30
Thank you, next.
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Testimony by Matt Goldweber, Senior Program Manager of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) on Surrender Prevention Programs and Animal Welfare